BREWED BEVERAGE APPLIANCE AND METHOD

• US 20140057033A1
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conair LLC (Conair Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: LAI, KIN MAN, FUNG, KAM FAI, SCHNABEL, BARBARA LYNN
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3623 Cartridges being employed with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/42 Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.

Claims

1. A method of brewing coffee, said method comprising the steps of:

loading a plurality of whole coffee beans from a beverage container into a hopper of a coffee appliance;

positioning said beverage container in a brewing area of said appliance;

grinding said whole coffee beans within said appliance to produce coffee grounds;

transferring said coffee grounds to said beverage container in said brewing area; and

infusing hot water into said coffee grounds to produce brewed coffee.

2. The method of brewing coffee according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of loading a plurality of whole coffee beans into said hopper includes piercing a fracturable cover of said beverage container and transferring said coffee beans from said beverage container to said hopper.

3. The method of brewing coffee according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

controlling a shutter to a closed position to block a passageway from a grinding mechanism to said brewing area to prevent backflow during said infusing step.

4. The method of brewing coffee according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling a shutter to an open position to enable said transfer of said coffee grounds to said brewing area.

5. The method of brewing coffee according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

directing a flow of steam to said brewing area to purge said beverage container of liquid.